USDBC WELCOMES NASDA TO CROP PROTECTION ALLIANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August, 2022
Portland, OR

In 2021, the U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) launched the Crop Protection Action Coalition for Trade (CPACT) to address and prevent disruption of agricultural trade between the United States and key export markets due to low or zero tolerance maximum residue limits. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) joined the coalition today to help ensure unfounded pesticide residue limits do not impede on U.S. food security and food production. This issue is of particular concern as some policymakers, notably in Europe, move away from science-based standards and towards zero or low tolerances in response to unscientific consumer and NGO advocacy pressures.

Ted McKinney, NASDA CEO (and former USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs) emphasized, “We are thrilled to join CPACT and contribute much needed drive from the agricultural sector to ensure the application of science-based
principles. We cannot afford any unfounded barriers to trade at this time of growing food insecurity. When we follow evidence-based science, we minimize disruptions to our food supply chain while maintaining high safety standards.”

CPACT is funded through USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Broad-based Initiatives program and is designed to create a coalition of like-minded organizations working together to tackle policy-based barriers to trade. CPACT is specifically targeted towards preventing the creation of zero or low tolerance maximum residue limits on crop protection tools such as herbicides and pesticides in key markets.

CPACT is designed to serve as a private sector agricultural/farmer voice to complement the U.S. Government’s own ambitious agenda to address restrictive MRL tolerances.

“We must have science-based tolerances that both protect human health, and allow for the appropriate use of crop protection tools so that growers and producers can continue to sustainably grow and ship the food that feeds the world. This is a completely achievable goal,” noted Rebecca Bratter, USDBC Executive Director.

USDBC is particularly concerned about the imposition of overly restrictive regulations in key export markets such as the European Union and Mexico. Clint Stoutenburg, a dry bean and multiple crop grower from Sandusky, Michigan and President of USDBC emphasized, “Farmers are the best stewards of the land; no one knows better, nor has more incentive to preserve the land and farming environment in order to protect resources for generations to come, but we need to utilize critical crop protection tools to grow sustainable and safe food and feed crops, especially in this challenging climate.”

CPACT is led by USDBC, but is a coalition of like-minded agricultural trade associations and currently includes, The US Dry Pean and Lentil Council, USA Rice Federation, Almond Board of California, and NASDA. Additional members are welcome to join at any time. For more information, please go to https://cropprotectionact.org/, or reach out to: Christian Foster at [email protected]